The HQP Research Presentation Series gives NMIN HQP the opportunity to collaboratively develop their poster presentation skills, deliver a presentation in a supportive environment, and to receive constructive feedback.

Presentations/Posters

Topical delivery of gene-editing tools into human skin

Delivery tools can be used to facilitate the intradermal absorption of LNPs to enhance the gene editing efficacy of CRISPR-Cas for the treatment of genodermatoses.

Juliana Bolsoni received a Bachelor’s in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and is currently a Master of Sciences student at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of British Columbia.

Visualizing pH-induced Lipid Nanoparticle Dynamics Provide a Better Understanding of their Formation and Drug Delivery Mechanism

This is a presentation on “Single-particle microscopy of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs)”, which is achieved by applying fluorescence microscopy in combination with custom imaging techniques develops in Prof. Sabrina Leslie’s group at UBC. More specifically we use Convex Lens-induced Confinement (CLiC) microscopy, as well as Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) and photo-bleaching measurements, to develop assays for studying LNPs. These measurements allow us to characterize biophysical properties of the LNPs, as well as their dynamics as function of changing buffer conditions (e.g. pH).

Albert Kamanzi is currently a Postdoc research fellow at the Michael Smith Laboratories, UBC, in Prof. Sabrina Leslie’s group. His research focuses on developing single molecule assays for studying Lipid nanoparticles. He earned his B.Sc. in physics and M.Sc. degrees in applied physics from the University of Massachusetts Boston, and his PhD in biophysics at McGill University.

Selectivity of Protein Interactions Stimulated by Terahertz Signals

It has been established that Terahertz (THz) band signals can interact with biomolecules through resonant modes. Specifically, of interest here, protein activation. Our research goal is to show how directing the mechanical signaling inside protein molecules using THz signals can control changes in their structure and activate associated biochemical and biomechanical events. To establish that, we formulate a selectivity metric that quantifies the system performance and captures the capability of the nanoantenna to induce a conformational change in the desired protein molecule/population. The metric provides a score between −1 and 1 that indicates the degree of control we have over the system to achieve targeted protein interactions. The presented work sheds light on the potential associated with the electromagnetic-based control of protein networks, which could lead to a plethora of applications in the medical field ranging from bio-sensing to targeted therapy.

Hadeel Mohammad is a PhD candidate in the ECE Department at the University of Toronto. Her research interests lie at the intersection of wireless communication and nanotechnology. She received various awards for both her academic excellence and research potential including the 2019 and 2021 Ontario Graduate Scholarships, the Photonics Expansion Grant, and the Mitacs Gloablink Research Award.